Empowering Proposal Writing with AI: Insights from Horizon Europe Training at UM

As artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes the landscape of research management, the University of Malta has taken a decisive step toward future-proofing its proposal development capabilities. On 13–14 November 2025, UM staff had the opportunity to explore how generative AI can enhance Horizon Europe proposal writing during an intensive two-day workshop titled Mastering Horizon Europe Pillar II Proposals.

Organised by the Research Support Services Directorate (RSSD Funding Team) and supported by the Office for Human Resources, Management and Development (HRMD), the training was led by Dr Paolo Soncini, EU Research Development Officer at the ADAPT Centre. With years of hands-on experience, Dr Soncini delivered practical, skill-focused sessions that equipped participants with both technical know-how and strategic insights.

The workshop drew participation from UM academics as well as the wide cohort of research managers and administrators from RSSD and the Projects Support Office (PSO), reflecting UM's commitment to strengthening research and innovation support across its faculties.

During the first day of training, Dr Soncini focused on interpreting call texts, building strong “Excellence” and “Impact” sections, and aligning project goals with EU priorities – skills essential for boosting UM’s research proposal quality. 

Day two addressed operational aspects: crafting consortia, budgeting under lump-sum funding, and managing project risks. A key highlight was the strategic integration of AI tools to support content creation, sharpen proposal framing, and streamline the entire writing process.

Beyond immediate skills, the workshop served as a launchpad for deeper cross-project synergies. The training reflects UM’s expanding collaboration with the ADAPT Centre, fostered through the LT Bridge project under Horizon Europe’s Twinning scheme. These connections not only enhance current widening initiatives but also contribute to broader institutional transformation and international engagement.

This training served as an inspiration for the thematic inclination of the summer school, which is being prepared by Dr Elena Sultana from RSSD. Funded by ERA-Shuttle project, where UM leads one of the work packages, this 2026 summer school will provide training on the cutting-edge integration of AI in research management and research funding proposal development. 

At least one day of the summer school will be dedicated to presentations on how to harness AI for idea brainstorming, comprehensive literature summarisation, improving clarity and coherence, and automating editing and referencing tasks. ERA-Shuttle summer school will be aligned with institutional capacity building and the deliverables of the ERA-Shuttle project, empowering researchers to craft more competitive and polished proposals efficiently in today’s AI-driven research landscape.

The HR Office and RSSD extend their appreciation to Dr Soncini for delivering a truly impactful learning experience. The training equipped UM researchers and R&I professionals with the tools, insights, and networks needed to build a more competitive, connected, and resilient research ecosystem.